Aanchal Thakur creates history; gets India their 1st-medal in skiing
What's the story
This girl from Manali, Aanchal Thakur, is making the country proud. Aanchal Thakur scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win an international medal in skiing. The 21-year-old won the bronze at the prestigious Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup at the Palandoken Ski Centre in Erzurum in Turkey. The event was organized by the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS), skiing's international governing body.
Scaling new heights
Manali girl brings home India's 1st skiing medal
Aanchal Thakur competed in the slalom race category and claimed the bronze model. This comes as a major boost to India, ahead of the Winter Olympics in South Korea this February. The 21-year-old's achievement did not go unnoticed and was acknowledged by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the Sports Minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
Twitter Post
PM lauds young Aanchal
Well done @alleaanchal for winning an international medal in skiing! The entire nation is ecstatic on your historic accomplishment at the FIS International Skiing Competition in Turkey. Wishing you the very best for your future endeavours.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 10, 2018
Information
Her medal gives a new hope to skiing in India
Aanchal's father, Roshan Thakur, is the secretary-general of the Winter Games Federation of India. He was more than happy of his daughter's historic feat and said "this is a breakthrough for the sport in India and the entire skiing fraternity is proud of her achievement."
Making India proud
India's new golden girl?
It hasn't been an easy journey for Aanchal. Most Indian bureaucrats don't even acknowledge skiing as a sport and hence, she had to fund her own trips. Aanchal developed an interest in the sport from her father but was later trained by former Olympian, Heera Lal. We hope that government now provides Aanchal with the requisite funds to compete and win at the international-level.